Sheep are protected in the valley by the shepherd. And so are we. Psalm 23:4 says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” In valleys, we get weak, maybe stray, grow desperate…but God does not. His power and protection is within us, with us, and for us in constant, epic and eternal proportions. Will God shield us from the valley? Not always. But nothing can separate us from God when we are in it. Today, some of you may be in a valley and God is all. you. have. left. Take heart, you have everything you need. I know dark valleys. And full disclosure, even with God it stinks to be in them. But when I consider my earlier valleys without Him—my testimony is concrete—the former is better. In a valley, the pain, uncertainty, anger, loneliness, fatigue is understandable–but the fear is optional. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid and anxious, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke‬ ‭12:32‬) We don’t need anxiety in the valley if God is in it with us. We’d only need anxiety if He wasn’t! I hope this encourages someone today.